Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The government will start assessing this week the operations of four state-owned commercial banks (SCBs)  in a major review since the corporatisation.

The first review meeting with board of directors of two banks-Sonali Bank Limited and Agrani Bank Limited -will be held at the state guest house Padma in the capital Dhaka on Thursday. Finance minister AMA Muhith will chair the meeting.

Second meeting with Janata Bank Limited and Rupali Bank Limited is scheduled to be held on February 3, officials confirmed.

The central bank has already submitted a report, detailing the performance of four SCBs since the corporatisation to the Finance Ministry for its assessment, a senior of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.

BB Atiur Rahman, senior deputy governor Nazrul Huda and executive director SK Sur Chowdhury will also attend the meeting.

The meeting will review the latest state of non-performing loans, particularly from top 20 defaulters and implementation of the existing core risk management guidelines, they added.

The central bank has identified credit, asset and liability, foreign exchange, information technology, internal control and compliance and money laundering as the six core risk areas.

The meeting will also be reviewing the recovery status of default loans, liquidity position, credit growth, operating expenses and borrowing costs of funds.

BBN/SI/AD-26Jan11-1:56 pm (BST)